Men’s Basketball – The Baylor Lariathttp://baylorlariat.com
We're there when you can't beFri, 09 Dec 2016 02:06:16 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.6.1http://baylorlariat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/cropped-Baylor-Lariat-Logo-32x32.pngMen’s Basketball – The Baylor Lariathttp://baylorlariat.com
3232Bears keep rolling; beat Xavier 76-61http://baylorlariat.com/2016/12/03/bears-keep-rolling-beat-xavier-76-61/
Sun, 04 Dec 2016 04:37:03 +0000http://baylorlariat.com/?p=73612Baylor and Xavier met for the third time in program history, and for the first time since the Bears defeated the Musketeers in the 2012 Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA tournament. Baylor also won the only other matchup between the two schools.

After a slow start, another big second half from the Bears, including a big game from junior guard Manu Lecomte, helped Baylor knock off Xavier, 76-61.

“The crowd was tremendous today. They really gave us a boost in the second half,” said head coach Scott Drew. “It really helped with our defense. Xavier is a really tough team to prepare for. They’ve got so many weapons and different people that can hurt you. I’m really proud of our team’s effort.”

Both teams entered the contest ranked in the top ten, marking the fourth-ranked team Baylor has played this season. The atmosphere fully reflected the marquee matchup, drawing in the largest crowd thus far at the Ferrell Center, including Hollywood comedic actor Bill Murray and inspiring, “We want Kansas” chants from the student section.

Junior forward Jonathan Motley was aggressive early on and established himself on the offensive end by scoring eight of Baylor’s first ten points. Motley finished with 17 points and eight rebounds.

In the first half, It was the Musketeers who used a 13-4 run, sparked by two three pointers by junior guard Trevon Bluiett to gain control of the game early in the first half. Xavier was able to hold off several runs by the Bears and go into the half leading 34-31. Bluiett finished with 23 points, including 6 for 10 from three-point range before fouling out in the final seconds. Sophomore guard Edmund Sumner chipped in with 19 points for the Musketeers.

Baylor is no stranger to trailing at halftime, having faced deficits against all three of its opponents in the Bahamas, so the Bears were confident coming out after the intermission, quickly regaining the lead on a three pointer by Lecomte.

Xavier refused to go away, taking the lead right back from the Bears in part to Bluiett’s fifth three pointer of the game. This success was short lived by the Musketeers, as Baylor began to seize control of the game for good when Bluiett hit the bench with this third personal foul. Baylor’s defense turned it up a notch and got stronger, forcing turnovers that led to transition baskets for the Bears. Baylor forced Xavier into 17 turnovers and converted them into 17 points. The Bears held Xavier to just 31% shooting from the field.

“We give Baylor credit, they’re awfully good. It’s nothing we didn’t know coming in and they’ve been a second half team, for what seems like all year so far, and today was no different,” said Xavier head coach Christ Mack. “We missed too many free throws. Trevon Bluiett going out really hurt. We turned the ball over, and you can’t turn the ball over on the road and expect good things to happen. Baylor had a lot to do with that.”

The Bears’ defense also held Xavier’s second leading scorer, junior guard J.P. Macura, who averages just under 17 points per game, to just seven points on two for 16 shooting.

The key for Baylor in the second half was Lecomte as he scored 15 of his 24 points in the half, including four key three pointers to help sustain Baylor’s lead. When he was not scoring the ball, he orchestrated the offense and got his teammates easy looks at the basket. Lecomte finished with five assists to go along with his game-high 24 points.

“We just had to get rhythm. We struggled a little bit in the beginning,” Lecomte said. “We just kept shooting and finding each other. That’s what we’re all about. We’re all in.”

After a slow start offensively, junior forward Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. finished with 12 points to help out Lecomte and Motley.

Xavier held a significant advantage on the glass, out-rebounding Baylor 47-35, including 18-8 on offensive rebounds. But the Musketeers could not convert those second chance opportunities into points, only finishing with 13 second chance points.

Even though the Bears were at a significant disadvantage on the offensive glass, the Bears completely dominated the paint, outscoring the Musketeers 38-18. The Bears eventually wore down Xavier inside and took advantage of foul trouble at the free throw line.

With the win, Baylor continues to build an impressive resume and moves to 8-0 on the season. Xavier drops to 7-1 on the season and will travel to take on Colorado on Wednesday. Baylor is off until they welcome Texas Southern at 6 p.m. on Dec. 14 at the Ferrell Center. The game will be aired on ESPNU.

For the first time in two years, former Baylor men’s basketball star Isaiah Austin is returning to basketball and will pursue his dream of playing in the NBA. Austin announced it on his Instagram on Wednesday.

“Very excited to announce to everyone that the news is true. I have been blessed by the grace of God to receive a second chance at chasing my dream of playing basketball. Everything happens for a reason and I’m ready to share my testimony and journey with millions of people across the world. #DreamAgain,” Austin said in the video posted on his Instagram account.

Austin, just four days before the 2014 NBA draft, was diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects the connective tissue in the body. Austin has faced other challenges as he has been blind in his right eye since age 16 after suffering a retinal detachment and four subsequent surgeries.

“I am cleared. I am about to be out here pursuing my dream. Ever since my doctors told me that I was cleared, it’s been in my mind: I want to go chase this. It’s always been my dream. At the same time, I’m a God-fearing man, and I believe that everything happens in life for a reason,” Austin in the video posted on his Instagram account. “So why would God put it in my doctor’s heart to say that I was cleared if he didn’t want me to go and chase my dream and share my testimony with millions of people around the world.”

Baylor men’s head basketball coach Scott Drew was ecstatic to hear the news along with everyone else.

“It was a lot of excitement, and the coaching staff was going crazy. I know Isaiah is someone who meant a lot to our university and program,” Drew said. “But every player that plays for you, you feel like is your son. And to see the excitement when he found out he was cleared … One of the best days I’ll remember.”

Austin averaged 12.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game during his two seasons at Baylor.

The Houston native continues Baylor’s streak of now having a Big 12 Player of the Week for six-straight seasons.

Motley was also named MVP in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, as he averaged 20 points and eight rebounds per game. This extended into the Bears defeating VCU, No. 24 Michigan State, and No. 10 Louisville.

“I am thankful for my teammates for getting me in the right positions to score,” Motley said. “I couldn’t do it by myself. It takes a team to win. We played harder than them and we got the W.”

Sophomore guard King McClure said after the win in the Bahamas that it is because of the team leaders that they were able to succeed.

“We’ve been in situations like this, and because of the great leadership we have in Ishmail Wainright and Johnathan Motley, and all the upper classmen, they said ‘We got this! We’re gonna chip away 5-points at a time, 5-points at a time,'” McClure sais. “That’s what we did, we started chipping away, and we started to believe in ourselves.”

The Bears trailed at half time in each game they played, but fought and came back in the second half of each game.

“Well we’ve been a second half team all tournament, but that one took it to extreme,” said head coach Scott Drew. “That’s why it always takes a team to win a tournament. We said we believed in our bench and they really came through and gave us a huge lift tonight.”

After coming back from a 22-point deficit and defeating No. 10 Louisville in a 66-63 game for the championship, the Baylor Bears are now ranked 9th in the NCAA AP Poll and 11th in the Coaches Poll.

Motley and the Bears will be back in action at 8 p.m. tonight at the Ferrell Center as they take on Sam Houston State.

]]>Richard HirstJunior forward Johnathan Motley pulls up a jumpshot during the Bears’ game against Texas on Feb. 1, at the Ferrell Center. Photo credit: Lariat File PhotoBaylor basketball looks to stay undefeatedhttp://baylorlariat.com/2016/11/29/baylor-basketball-looks-to-stay-undefeated/
Wed, 30 Nov 2016 03:55:35 +0000http://baylorlariat.com/?p=73426The No. 9-ranked Baylor men’s basketball team looks to stay strong coming off of an impressive run at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament as they take on the Sam Houston State University Bearkats at 8 p.m. today at the Ferrell Center.

“This is the 10th straight year that we have been ranked at some point. I think that’s a great tribute to the players that we’ve had and what they have been able to do,” said head coach Scott Drew. “I think there’s been years where we’ve been in the top 10 and the year didn’t finish out wanted to, and there are years we weren’t ranked as high and we ended up going to Elite 8’s and Sweet 16 and whatnot. We understand right now we are off to a good start, but we have a lot of goals and a lot of things left that we want to accomplish and achieve.”

Drew is 1-0 all-time as a Baylor head basketball coach going against the Bearkats. Drew understands that while his team has been getting some great recognition, there is still a lot of work left to be done.

“It’s great that our guys have been recognized for what they have been able to accomplish against outstanding programs, but we are really excited about the future of what we have the ability to accomplish this year,” Drew said.

Baylor leads the all-time series between the two teams, 7-3 and a record at home of 5-3 during the series. The last time these two teams played was on March 18, 2010, in the NCAA March Madness tournament when Baylor defeated the Bearkats 68-59 in New Orleans.

Senior guard Ishmail Wainright will be playing against Sam Houston State for the first time in his career at Baylor, and he said that this game will be no walk in the park for them.

“We know a lot about them. We have a great coaching staff that breaks down a lot of film. They do have a lot of depth. Great point guards, great bigs. They’re not as tall as us, but they play big,” Wainwright said. “They’re a great team and especially to not be ranked, they are playing a ranked team now. I’m pretty sure they are going to play with a chip on their shoulder. They are going to bring their all, and we are going to do the same.”

Sam Houston State is 4-2 on the season and is coming off of a win against Idaho, 69-62, in Huntsville. The last time the Bearkats defeated the Baylor Bears was in 1999 when the Bearkats won 64-81 in Waco.

Sophomore guard Jake Lindsey said he likes the confidence of this young team with their 6-0 start to the season.

“I think it’s very high. Being able to go out there and rely on your teammates and look at everyone on the floor and know that no one is a liability and that everyone has something to contribute,” Lindsey said. “They bring it every day. That’s a big part of what could make this team special this year.”

Junior forward Jonathan Motley led the Bears from the start of the tournament, finishing the tournament with 60 points and was awarded the Most Valuable Player award.

“We have been a second half team all tournament, but that one I guess took it to extremes. I thought first half Louisville pounded us on the glass and towards the end of it half to get a little rhythm,” said head coach Scott Drew. “In the second half we had the chance to get back and gain some points. We kept missing some easy shots, and then finally the guys stuck with it. That is why it always takes a team to win a tournament. We said we believe in our bench and they really came through and gave us a huge lift tonight. King [McClure] got us going with that spurt and from there Motley took over down the stretch. It is a much better feeling when you are winning.”

Struggling to get things going early in the game, the Bears found themselves down by as many as 22, and 39-22 going into the half.

However, the Bears were no strangers to being down at the half as they trailed VCU by eight in their tournament opener on Wednesday and by three against No. 24 Michigan State on Thursday.

Coming back from the half, the Bears (6-0) found themselves down 20, but were able to chip away at the lead slowly. It was a 21-5 run with just under 10 minutes remaining in regulation, led by Motley that gave the Bears the victory.

“I am thankful for my teammates for getting me in the right positions to score,” Motley said. “I couldn’t do it by myself. It takes a team to win. We played harder than them and we got the W.”

However, the effort was not just a one person show, as sophomore guard King McClure scored 15 points in the second half. Junior forward Terry Maston also aided the Bears with 10 points in the second half. As a team in the second half, the Bears shot 65 percent from the field in rout to their 66-63 upset victory over No. 10 Louisville.

“A lot of times when teams are down like that, they break apart. We came together. At halftime we were in the locker room and we said we have been here before,” McClure said. “We have been in situations like this. We came back and started chipping away and saw the lead go down. We started to believe in ourselves. We are coming together and we are all in.”

Donovan Mitchell led the Cardinals with 17 points, but it wasn’t enough to get past the motivated Bears team. The Cardinals went nine for 27 in the second half, with a shooting percentage of 33 percent.

“I saw it in their legs,” said Cardinal head coach Rick Pitino. “Anytime a team doesn’t get in the right defense, the right press, you know it’s mental and physical fatigue. You see it right away. But I didn’t make the substitutions. … It’s my fault. I saw they were fatigued. I was just hoping the timeouts could overcome it but it didn’t.”

The Bears will be back in action 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Ferrell Center as they play host to Sam Houston State.

]]>Richard HirstJunior forward Johnathan Motley pulls up a jumpshot during the Bears’ game against Texas on Feb. 1, at the Ferrell Center. Photo credit: Lariat File PhotoBears keep rolling, knock off Spartanshttp://baylorlariat.com/2016/11/24/bears-keep-rolling-knock-off-spartans/
Thu, 24 Nov 2016 21:54:29 +0000http://baylorlariat.com/?p=73262Baylor basketball continues to establish itself as a team to be reckoned with. After a big second half on Tuesday that saw Baylor erase an 8-point deficit in beating VCU, the Bears relied on another big second half, outscoring Michigan State 43-25, en route to a 73-58 win over the Spartans today in Paradise Island, Bahamas. The Bears were led by junior forward Jonathan Motley who scored 26 points, with 20 of those coming in the first half.

“We have some depth and have some different options, you can keep them fresh. At different times, they all can get on a roll. They complement one another. It stems from our leader Ishmail Wainwright,” said head coach Scott Drew. “He is our only senior on the team. He is such an unselfish player…keeps everyone together and I think that trickles down to everyone else.”

Michigan State found its rhythm early, relying heavily on three point shooting. The Spartans hit six first half three point field goals, including two from sophomore guard Matt McQuaid, who was two of three from downtown in the first 20 minutes.

Motley, established himself early with a variety of offensive moves. He made strong drives to the basket, showed off his touch around the rim, and even showed his range, as he stepped out and hit his only three point attempt of the game.

“We are bigger than them in the paint and think we are tougher so we used that to our advantage,” Motley said.

In the second half, head coach Scott Drew wanted Baylor to be more balanced on the offensive end. That was exactly what the Bears were able to do. Junior forward Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. scored all 14 of his points in the second half. Despite just a three for 10 shooting performance, junior guard Manu Lecomte contributed eight points and eight assists. Junior guard Al Freeman slashed through the Spartan defenders and was able to finish at the rim, finishing with 9 points. Senior guard Ishmael Wainwright and junior forward Terry Maston both finished with 7 points, most of which came in the second half.

“We were able to get stops and get some transition buckets. When we are able to get in transition and get some easy ones, that loosens things up. In the first half, they were getting transition baskets and we weren’t getting back. I thought first when you score, it is easier to get back,” Drew said. “Second of all, you get stops and transitions, it easier to score. It all kind of works together.”

Baylor’s defense continues to be a key weapon for the Bears, as they won the turnover battle yet again, taking advantage of 14 Spartan turnovers and converting them into 19 points. Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo’s teams are historically known for their physicality and their rebounding ability. In both cases, the Bears beat Michigan State at its own game, outrebounding the Spartans 36-29 and scoring 44 points in the paint compared to 22 for Michigan State.

The Spartans were led by freshman guard Miles Bridges, who finished with 15 points.

Michigan State, who drops to 3-3 on the year, will play Wichita State in the 3rd place game. That game will be aired on ESPN or ESPN2 at 1 p.m. Friday.

Baylor improves to 5-0 and advances to the championship of the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament. The Bears will take on tenth-ranked Louisville in the championship game at 3:30 p.m. Friday. The game will be aired on either ESPN or ESPN2.

Junior guard Manu Lecomte lead the Bears in scoring with 19 points, along with four assists and two steals. Senior forward Al Freeman, was close behind with 18 points and one assist. On defense, junior forward Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. dominated with five blocks off the board.

“We expected a dog fight for sure,” Freeman said. “They played a lot of high measured games…they had experienced guys so they weren’t going to come in here and back down, or when adversity hit them, just fold.”

The Bears had a close game against the Eagles, trading baskets in the first half of the game. However, by halftime, Baylor was up 42-32.

Coming into the second half, FGCU came out strong, scoring 40 points in the half. At one point, the Eagles gained multiple leads on the Bears. However, Baylor fought back, hitting a turning point in the middle of the second half and go on a 12-2 point run. The Bears scored 39 points in the second half and ultimately overcame the Eagles.

Head Coach, Scott Drew said he was satisfied with the results of the game, and knows that close games are something his team will need to expect.

“This was really good for our team because we needed a close game before we went to Atlantis, not that I wanted to have one,” Drew said. “You’re gonna have a lot of close games and you need to have some earlier in the season to get used to things.”

The Bears will be back in action 1:30 p.m. Wednesday against Virginia Commonwealth University as they travel to Paradise Island, Bahamas to compete in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament.

The Baylor men’s basketball team, as part of ESPN’s College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon, welcomed the fourth-ranked Oregon Ducks to the Ferrell Center on Tuesday as the Bears won their first top-five team in the past 105 years. The two schools played in Eugene, Ore., last season, a game Oregon won 74-67. Oregon won 74-67. However, the Ducks were without All-American junior forward Dillon Brooks in this matchup due to recent foot surgery. His absence, as well as an inspired Baylor team looking for a marquee win early in the season, helped guide the Bears to a 66-49 victory over Oregon.

“Oregon is going to win a lot of games. This is a win that helps you all year long,” head coach Scott Drew said. “This win helps people know Baylor still has a pretty good team, and now we have to deal with handling success, and that’s harder than being disrespected, but we’ll take the win though.”

Baylor controlled the tempo early on, as its 1-2-2 press and zone defense slowed down the Ducks’ offense early. The defense led to five early turnovers and forced the Ducks into just two of 13 three-point shooting early on in the first half. The size of junior forwards Jo Lual-Acuil and Johnathan Motley, who sat out Friday’s win over Oral Roberts University, made it extremely difficult for Oregon’s guards to penetrate and get good looks at the basket. Motley and the Bears held the Ducks to 32.8 shooting percentage.

“This is the highest-ranked team we’ve had at the Ferrell,” Lual-Acuil said. “This is what you really live for. If you’re not going to be excited about that, maybe you should be doing different things. They were coming into our house, and you just try to protect our home court, so whoever comes here, we have to give them a fight.”

On the offensive end, it was junior guard Manu Lecomte who carried the scoring load early on, netting 13 early points, including three three-pointers. Lecomte led all scorers with 18 points and seven assists.

After Oregon trimmed Baylor’s 11-point advantage down to four, the Bears used a late 6-0 run, including a three-pointer by sophomore guard Jake Lindsay at the buzzer to give Baylor a 33-23 lead at halftime.

The Ducks came out of the intermission more aggressive in attacking the basket and trimmed the Bears’ lead to a single point.

“Good teams are always going to make runs,” Drew said. “But I thought we moved the ball and rebounded well and got good looks, which is something we didn’t do well up at their place.”

However, Baylor responded with a run of its own and regain control of the game with its defensive pressure and rebounding advantage in the post.

After a poor-shooting first half, Motley began to find his stroke down the stretch – hitting several short jumpers as well as two emphatic dunks, which kept the Bears in control and the home crowd on its feet. Motley finished with 17 points and six rebounds.

Whenever the Baylor offense looked stagnant and needed a basket, it was Lecomte who answered the call. His quickness and ability to penetrate the lane gave the Duck defenders fits all night and led to scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.

Ultimately, the combination of the aggressive Baylor zone and the absence of Brooks wore the Ducks down over the course of the game, especially in the second half. Oregon failed to establish anyone who could consistently knock down the three-pointers and force the Bears to stretch the zone. As a result, Baylor packed the paint and forced the Ducks’ guards to penetrate the small gaps of the defense and either take contested jumpers or drive into the bigs, who finished with nine blocks.

Baylor also controlled the glass, out-rebounding the Ducks 41-30 and 14-12 on the offensive glass, which led to 15-4 advantage on second-chance points.

Oregon was led by graduate guard Dylean Ennis, who finished with 16 points. Senior forward Chris Boucher added 12 points for the Ducks.

With the victory, Baylor improves to 2-0 and will enjoy it for a little while before it hosts Florida Gulf Coast at 7 p.m. Friday at the Ferrell Center.

“We get to celebrate the win for a couple of hours, and then we need to get ready for the next one,” Motley said.

]]>The Baylor LariatJunior forward Jo Lual-Acuil and junior guard Ishmail Wainright battle to get the rebound on Tuesday at the Ferrell Center against No. 4-ranked Oregon. The Bears won 74-67. Photo Credit: Jessica Hubble | Lariat PhotographerMen’s basketball starts the season with a winhttp://baylorlariat.com/2016/11/11/mens-basketball-starts-the-season-with-a-win/
Sat, 12 Nov 2016 04:27:51 +0000http://baylorlariat.com/?p=72838The Bears start their season 1-0 after a 76-61 win over Oral Roberts Friday night at the Ferrell Center.

Men’s basketball adds to their consecutive season opening streak, now having won 10 season openers.

New names and faces fill the roster as the Bears look to regroup and build with a new team. Junior point guard Manu Lecomte said believes he didn’t play his best, but still takes away the positives.

“I’m not too worried about it,” Lecomte said. “You know 10 assists, I’ll take that even over missed shots, so I’m good.”

Making his official debut, Lecomte finished the game with a total of 13 points, 10 assists, and 3 steals.

Tonight’s leading scorer was fellow guard senior Al Freeman who was just a few points ahead, Freeman had a total of 16 points and one assist.

Another Bear who made his Baylor debut was junior forward Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. Acuil shared his excitement with finally being healthy to play.

“It was a relief,” Acuil said. “I was excited, kind of nervous at the start, but after the first minute I was acclimated, and I was good. It felt great to play.”

Acuil racked up a total of 12 points in the game, along with one assist and four blocks.

Head coach Scott Drew said he feels his team’s biggest issue this year might be rebounding.

“Rebounding, that’s an area where we still need to do a much better job, because you didn’t to box out because Rico could take on two guys and still get the ball,” Drew said. “That was an area that I thought we definitely need to do better.”

The Bears will be back in action at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday as they play host to Oregon.

]]>Richard HirstJunior forward Johnathan Motley pulls up a jumpshot during the Bears’ game against Texas on Feb. 1, at the Ferrell Center. Photo credit: Lariat File PhotoSports take: Leaders of men’s basketballhttp://baylorlariat.com/2016/10/18/sports-take-leaders-of-mens-basketball/
Wed, 19 Oct 2016 03:14:04 +0000http://baylorlariat.com/?p=71835With former men’s basketball players Taurean Prince going to the Atlanta Hawks and Rico Gathers pursuing an NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys, the Bears are left with a gap to fill as both played vital roles in the team’s success last season.

Prince and Gathers were both key players in helping the Bears make an appearance in the NCAA tournament last season. However, the Bears were upset by Yale in the first round of the tournament on a last-second miracle, losing by a final score of 79-75.

In the game against Yale, Prince grabbed 28 points in just 34 minutes of play as he lead in minutes and points. He also lead in three-point percentage as he went 4-7 from behind the three-point range in the game, and posted a three-point percentage of 57.1%, which was one of his best games of the season. Unfortunately for Baylor, not only was it not enough to get the win, it also marked the end of Prince’s collegiate career.

The Bears won 22 games in 2015-16 season, as they recorded the program’s eighth 20-win season in the last nine years. As a team, the Bears have averaged 23.8 wins per season since 2007-08.

As head coach Scott Drew enters his 14th season at Baylor, he hopes to guide the Bears to their third consecutive NCAA Tournament bid for the first time in program history.

Leading this hungry and motivated squad of players will be senior guard Ishmail Wainright and junior guard Al Freeman.

Both Wainright and Freeman played and started all 34 games during the 2015-16 campaign. Although Freeman saw more minutes on the court than Wainwright, both made their presence known in most games.

Freeman averaged 30 minutes a game and 11.3 points per game on the season. Wainright would end the season with a 40.6 percent three-point percentage and an overall shot percentage of 42.7 percent, while averaging 4.29 rebounds per game and 1.0 steals.

Together, these two have proven from last season that they can definitely handle the pressure that comes with being leaders on this team. These will be the two to keep your eyes on to take Baylor back to the March Madness bracket this season with a possible automatic bid from winning the Big 12 conference. The Bears should definitely be able to get past the haunting first round of the NCAA tournament, where they have fallen in the past two seasons.

Although Wainwright and Freeman may be the ones the Bears look up to as the season progresses, they will be joined by four returning letterwinners from last season, including 2017 Preseason All-Big 12 honoree junior forward Johnathan Motley, junior forward Terry Maston, sophomore guard Jake Lindsey and sophomore guard King McClure.